Rainbow Chasers

Subject: Rainbow Chasers
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 03:07 PM

Anyone come across them yet? I saw a flier at the folk club last week. Interesting line up, Ashley Hutchings, Ruth Angell, Jo Hamilton and Joe Topping. Last time I saw Joe he was making for the US of A with the intention of hitch-hicking across it with nothing but his back pack and guitar. Anyone there bump into him?

Anyhow - I had a very 60's moment at the club. On the way in saw a poster in the pub doorway for Tangerine Dream, which I did not pay much attention to, but then saw the Rainbow Chasers flier. For those who don't know, Rainbow Chaser was a hit (possibly their only one?) for Nirvana - No, not the Kurt Cobain one, although he was born around the same time as the song I guess!

Coincidences within coincidences...

MP

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 04:05 PM

I saw the first line up which was very good indeed, but no doubt bumped out of gigs by uthankers!!

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 25 Apr 11 - 04:06 PM

Unthankers I should have said.

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 02:49 AM

I bought an album. Very polished, great singing and playing, good arrangements of well written songs but I felt lacking the edge and strangeness tath I feel from traditional songs.

Just a personal opinion - that's all

L in C#

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 03:35 AM

Rainbow Chasers site

I think they're great, wonderful musicians and singers. Saw them a few years back now and bought their CD below. I love the 'New Blue Stockings' song of theirs which is all about life as it once was and life as it is now...the words are in the link.

Lyrics from their CD 'Some Colours Fly'

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: GUEST,davemc
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:27 AM

Heresy alert: They'd be better without AH. I find them an uncomfortable watch as there is a freshness about 3 of the performers and just an air of expected historical reverence for the other one who does his thumpy bass and hat thing as if on autopilot. Spoils the sound balance, too, in my opinion.

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:33 AM

Ashley Hutchings, I get the impression, isn't liked much in the English Folk world...I have my own thoughts as to why that may be...Yet he has done so very much for it..

Without Ashley there would be no Rainbow Chasers, for it's because of him they're all there in the first place...

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:59 AM

Lizzie, I'm with you there 110% and would go so far as to say that without Ashley's work over the years much of today's folk would not exist. There would be no Fairport or Steeleye and spin offs and many others.

Clearly davemc is more comfortable with the mediocre!!

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 06:13 AM

I cannot think many people doubt the impotant influence of AH but it's hard to imagine that all the other members of various Steeleyes, Fairports and Albions wouldn't have gone on to pretty much what they did with out AH.

Martin Carthy and one R Thompson have done a bit off and on have they not?

L in C#

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Folkiedave
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 08:10 AM

Ashley is known as the Guvnor and so he should be. The wikipedia entry on him is fairly comprehensive.

I have had him on my radio show and met him twice recently and he has been charming, thoughtful and very erudite.

You might care to watch out for his son Blair Dunlop - who is an amazing guitar player and excellent singer. I suppose it is in the genes! (Blair played Young Willie Wonka in the 2005 version of Charlie And the Chocolate Factory)

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: GUEST,lurcio
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 03:54 PM

OMG. Is there nothing that she does not have an opinion about or axe to grind over. How do you put up with it?

L.

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: GUEST,Folkiedave
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:34 PM

Most unfair Lurcio - she is perfectly entitled to her opinions on folk music.

Based as I am sure it is, on attendance at festivals, listening to radio shows like mine, going to gigs and sessions etc etc.

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Richie Black (misused acct, bad email)
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 07:37 PM

Good post Lizzie.

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:28 AM

No Show of Hands without AH. I think not

L in C#

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Bounty Hound
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:53 AM

Whilst he may not be the worlds greatist bassist, Ashley Hutchings vision and enthusiasm have been the catalyst for so many good things.

How many great performers cut their teeth with the Albion Band?

We owe Ashley Hutchings a great debt!

John

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 06:20 AM

A Guide to Ashley Hutchings

Ashley (various bands) - Some videos

Ashley - Illustrated (bits and bobs)

The Lark Rise Band

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: GUEST,muppitz (Has anyone seen my cookie?!)
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 08:11 AM

I think individually they are great singers/musicians and the line up had a lot of promise but I think they lack an element of 'fun' on stage.

One particular experience I can cite is some time ago I saw Joe Topping with the other band he is in, Elbow Jane, I love this band as they do great songs, present and perform well and aside from all being really nice guys they always seem to be outwardly enjoying themselves from the start to the end of a set.

A day or so afterwards I saw the Rainbow Chasers and was thoroughly disappointed, the stuff was performed to a really high standard but I was quite frankly bored and the difference in Joe was remarkable, he was enjoying performing but not like I've seen him with Elbow Jane or even with his own sets.

I've also seen Ruth and Jo Hamilton in other bands and can see a difference.
I think the point I'm trying to make is that they are a bit too regimented and need to have a bit more fun with it.

Just my 2 pence worth!

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 04:01 PM

Funniest thing I saw was when Cathy LeSurf (Sp?) was with the Albions. AH was dancing with her at a ceilidh and his bald pate was around the same level as her, how shall we put it, upper bits. She was wearing a low cut top and from the back it looked like Ashley was the middle boob :-)

No more C&P links please but any comments from someone who has seen then and knows what they are talking about would be greatly appreciated.

Ta.

MP

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:47 PM

I've seen them. I know what they're like.

That's why the links are there, so that others can find out about them and about Ashley.

I typed out every single word of the lyrics from their 'Some Colours Do Fly' on that link above, because, at the time that site was made there was no 'official site' for the Rainbow Chasers, nor were their lyrics to be found anywhere on the internet.

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 01:29 AM

I can only repeat any comments from someone who has seen then and knows what they are talking about would be greatly appreciated.


When I say anyone I mean anyone. I still don't like too many links though and politely asked for no more, I think.

MP

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Apr 11 - 06:54 PM

BTW - Saw another poster for Tangerine Dream today. Anyone know if they are still the same, or at least similar, to the original? They are on at the Lowry, near me, and while I never realy got into them first time round I would be inerested in seeing what they do now.

MP

Subject: RE: Rainbow Chasers
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 May 11 - 10:54 AM

I have seen them 3 times with the original line up and consider them to be far superior to many media hyped unthankers!!!